Grapevine plant named &#39;14-44-248&#39;

ABSTRACT

This new variety ‘14-44-248’ is new and different because of its very large berry size, elongate berry and very firm, crisp texture. Fruit of the new variety ripens in mid-season producing a very sweet berry which is suitable for the domestic and foreign grape markets.

GENUS AND SPECIES

[0001]Vitis vinifera

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The new table grapevine ‘14-44-248’ is of Vitis viniferaparentage. It resulted from an effort to provide an alternative to‘Redglobe’ (unpatented) in the mid-season, seeded table grape market.Ripening of ‘14-44-248’ is in the same period as ‘Thompson Seedless’,achieving a sugar level of about 18 degrees brix in the second week ofAugust. Fruit of the new variety hangs well on the vine and sugar levelscontinue to increase until the third week of September in the Delano,Calif. area. Pedicels of ‘14-44-248’ are very slender and are prone todrying if held in cold storage for long periods of time.

[0003] The female, seeded parent (unnamed) resulted from a series ofcrosses involving ‘Hunisa’, ‘Flame Seedless’, ‘Emperor’, and ‘ThompsonSeedless’ (all unpatented). The male parent of the cross is ‘FantasySeedless’ (unpatented). The hybridization resulting in ‘14-44-248’ wasmade near McFarland, Calif. in 1993. Resulting seeds were stratified andsown in a greenhouse in January of 1994. Seedlings were transplanted toa field in the Delano, Calif. area in March of that same year. Theoriginal seedling vine of ‘14-44-248’ was selected from a population of127 seedlings of like parentage in 1996. It was then propagated bycuttings and grafting to ‘Freedom’ rootstock. Those resulting plantswere stable and typical of the original vine. Subsequent propagations ofthe variety have also proven stable with true to type plants.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL CULTIVAR

[0004] The new grapevine variety, cv. ‘14-44-248’ somewhat resembles theseeded cv. ‘Emperor’, from which it descends, but differs by having amuch larger berry with a crisper texture than fruit of ‘Emperor’. Itshares some characteristics with ‘Fantasy’, but differs by having agreater fruitfulness than ‘Fantasy’, allowing spur pruning of the vines.Berries of ‘14-44-248’ have sclerified seeds, unlike the pollen parent.Vigor of the new variety is reduced compared to that of ‘Fantasy’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGS.

[0005] The accompanying drawings illustrate the following:

[0006]FIG. 1: Cane, leaf, natural fruit cluster (left) and fruit clusterfollowing gibberellic acid applications (right).

[0007]FIG. 2: Fruit cluster at harvest.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The following description of grapevine ‘14-44-248’ containsreferences to color names taken from the Munsell Color Chart for PlantTissues, published by Munsell Color, New Windsor, N.Y. Descriptors usedherein conform to those set forth by the International Board for PlantGenetic Resources Institute Grape Descriptors (Vitis spp.) of 1983and/or 1997 which were developed in collaboration with the OfficeInternational de la Vigne et du Vin (OIV) and the International Unionfor the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV).

[0009] Descriptions of the new invention apply to vines of ‘14-44-248’grown on ‘Freedom’ rootstock at a density of 1,537 vines per hectaregrown in Kern County, California in 2001. These vines were in theirthird year of full production having been planted in 1997. Thesedescriptions are believed to apply generally to the new variety grownunder similar circumstances elsewhere:

VINE

[0010] General:

[0011]Size.—Large.

[0012]Vigor.—High.

[0013]Productivity.—Very productive when spur pruned, up to 49,470kg./hectare.

[0014]Trunk circumference.—22.8 cm. at 1 meter height.

[0015]Rootstock.—Freedom.

[0016] Trunk:

[0017]Shape.—Medium.

[0018]Straps.—Long, split.

[0019]Surface texture.—Shaggy.

[0020]Inner bark color.—2.5YR 4/6 to 4/8.

LEAVES

[0021] Mature leaves:

[0022]Average blade length.—17.1 cm.

[0023]Average blade width.—20.7 cm.

[0024]Size of blade.—Large.

[0025]Shape.—Pentagonal.

[0026]Anthocyanin coloration of main veins on the upper side of theblade.—Present at base of veins.

[0027]Mature leaf profile.—Undulating.

[0028]Blistering surface of blade upper surface.—Absent.

[0029]Leaf blade tip.—Curved upward.

[0030]Undulation of margin.—Strong.

[0031]Apex.—Acuminate.

[0032]Thickness.—Medium.

[0033]Undulation of blade between main and lateral veins.—Strong.

[0034]Shape of teeth.—Conical, both sides convex.

[0035]Length of teeth.—5-13 mm.

[0036]Ratio length/width of teeth.—About 1:1.

[0037]General shape of petiole sinus.—Open (ovate).

[0038]Tooth at petiole sinus.—Absent.

[0039]Petiole sinus limited by veins.—Absent.

[0040]Shape of upper lateral sinus.—Closed.

[0041]Prostrate hairs between veins on lower surface of blade.—Absent.

[0042]Erect hairs between hairs on lower surface of blade.—Absent.

[0043]Prostrate hairs on main veins on lower surface of blade.—Absent.

[0044]Density of erect hairs on main veins on lower surface ofblade.—Sparse.

[0045]Prostrate hairs on main veins on upper surface of blade.—Absent.

[0046]Autumn coloration.—Color variable: Mostly yellow: 5Y 8/6; marginsreddish: 5R 5/10.

[0047] Upper surface:

[0048]Color.—7.5 GY 4/4 to 4/6.

[0049]Surface texture.—Smooth.

[0050]Surface appearance.—Dull.

[0051]Goffering of blade.—Absent.

[0052] Lower surface:

[0053]Color.—5GY 5/6 to 5/10.

[0054]Anthocyanin coloration of main veins on lower leafsurface.—Present.

[0055]Glossiness.—Low.

[0056]Pubescence.—Absent.

[0057]Surface texture.—Smooth.

[0058]Surface appearance.—Dull.

[0059] Petiole:

[0060]Length of petiole.—15.7 cm.

[0061]Length of petiole compared to middle vein.—About the same.

[0062]Density of prostrate hairs on petiole.—Absent.

[0063]Density of erect hairs on petiole.—Absent.

[0064]Shape of base of petiole sinus.—Mostly closed, inside outline isovate.

[0065] Woody shoot:

[0066]Shape.—Stocky.

[0067]Internode length.—About 14.0 cm.

[0068]Width at node.—About 2.0 cm.

[0069]Cross section.—Circular.

[0070]Surface.—Smooth.

[0071]Main color.—5YR 4/6 to 4/8.

[0072]Lenticels.—Inconspicuous.

[0073]Erect hairs on nodes.—Absent.

[0074]Erect hairs on internodes.—Absent.

[0075]Growth of axillary shoots.—Prolific.

[0076] Buds:

[0077]Shape.—Conical.

[0078]Cane bud fruitfulness.—Basal buds fruitful, 1-2 clusters pershoot.

FLOWERS

[0079] General:

[0080]Flower sex.—Perfect.

[0081]Length of first inflorescence.—17.1 cm.

[0082]Position of first flowering nodes.—3rd to 4th.

[0083]Number of inflorescences per shoot.—1 or 2.

[0084]Date of full bloom.—May 18, 2001.

[0085]Time of bloom.—Average compared to other varieties growing in thearea around McFarland, Calif.

FRUIT

[0086] General:

[0087]Ripening period.—Early; about 1 week after ‘Thompson Seedless’ atDelano, Calif.

[0088]Date of ripening.—About Aug. 10, 2001.

[0089]Use.—Fresh market.

[0090]Keeping quality.—Good.

[0091]Resistance.—Insects: typical of Vitis vinifera. Diseases: typicalof Vitis vinifera.

[0092]Shipping quality.—Good.

[0093]Date of first harvest.—Aug. 10, 2001.

[0094]Solids-sugar.—High, about 20 brix at full maturity.

[0095]Refractometer test.—26.0 brix.

[0096] Cluster:

[0097]Bunch size.—Large.

[0098]Bunch length (peduncle excluded).—About 30 cm.

[0099]Bunch width.—About 10.5 cm.

[0100]Bunch weight (natural).—1069 g.

[0101]Bunch density.—Low.

[0102]Number of berries.—119.

[0103]Form.—Conical.

[0104] Peduncle:

[0105]Length of peduncle.—4 cm.

[0106]Lignification of peduncle.—Strong, upper 1 cm.

[0107]Color.—7.5YR 4/4.

[0108] Berry:

[0109]Size.—Large.

[0110]Uniformity of size.—Variable.

[0111]Berry weight.—12.8 g.

[0112]Shape.—Elliptic.

[0113]Presence of seeds.—Yes, avg. wt.=48 mg.

[0114]Cross section.—Circular.

[0115]Dimensions.—Longitudinal axis about 3.2 cm.; horizontal axis about2.5 cm.

[0116]Skin color (without bloom).—Reddish black, 5RP 3/4 to 3/6.

[0117]Coloration of flesh.—Clear.

[0118]Juiciness of flesh.—Very juicy.

[0119]Berry firmness.—Very firm.

[0120]Particular flavor.—Neutral, typical vinifera.

[0121]Bloom (cuticular wax).—Strong.

[0122]Pedicel length.—10 mm.

[0123]Berry separation from pedicel.—Moderate.

[0124] Skin:

[0125]Thickness.—Medium.

[0126]Texture.—Tender.

[0127]Reticulation.—Absent.

[0128]Roughness.—Variable, smooth to rough.

[0129]Tenacity.—Tenacious to flesh.

[0130]Tendency to crack.—Resistant.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of grapevine cv.‘14-44-248’ as herein described and illustrated and identified by thecharacteristics enumerated above.